Electric-switch mechanism



R. B. BENJAMIN. ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 18, 1918.

Patented 001 18, 1921.. 1

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN B. nEmAnIImor cmcneo, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR r0 BENJAMIN anno- TRIO IIANUI'AcrUnmGcoMrANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A conrommo QI' L'LINQIS.

- ELECTRIC-SWITCH MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed November 18, 1918. Serial No. 263,074.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric-Switch Mechanisms, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a art of this specification.

his invention relates to an electric switch mechanism, and, more particularly, to an electric switch mechanism which is antomatically operated by the action of a door, window, or the like.

The object of this invention is to gener ally improve the construction of switch-operating mechanisms of this type, and resides essentially in the production of improved means which will prevent injury to the circuit-controlling mechanism due to any improper operation or adjustment of the switch-operating mechanism; and, further, in improved means for adjusting the switchoperating mechanism. Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying illustrations, and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustration, the preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-'- Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation illustrating. the improved switch-operating mechanism in position with respect to the door;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken on the plane represented by the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow; I

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the resilient buffer mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is an illustration of an alternative form in which the adjusting means and the resilient buffer are mounted on the door.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the circuitcontrolling mechanism or snap-switch 10 '1s inclosed in a housing 11,'the said housing being secured to a bracket 12 by means of a bolt 13. The bracket 12 is rigidly attached to a door-casing or the like 14 by means of screws such as 15 and 16. Fitted in the housing 11 is a conduit17 through wh1ch the circuit-conductors for controlling the circuit are led to the snap-switch 10 inclosed within the housing. Any suitable type of sive action between an annular rim 20 on the interlor of the housing and the cap 18,

is a flexible diaphragm 21 composed of any dlgisired waterproof material, preferably pig s n.

The circuit-controlling switch 10 is pro- Vlded w1th an operating button 22 secured to an operating plunger 23, the operating plunger 23 being provided with an operating spiral spring 24. The operating button 22 of the snap-switch-lO is inclosed within the housing 11 beneath the diaphragm 21, and the operating spring 24 of the snap-switch serves to force this button 22 into its normal position, the operating spring 24 being sufiiciently strong to distort or extend the diaphragm 21 so that the operating button 22 may assume its normal position notwithstanding the effect of the pressure exerted thereon bythe diaphragm 21.

The cap 18 is centrally apertured and in this aperture is slidably fitted a cylindrical switch-operating member 25 which is fitted with a flange 26 at its lower extremity to prevent the cylindrical member from falling out of the cap 18. The flange 26 also serves to hold the base 27 of the cylindrical member in position. The base 27 acts on the button 22 to operate the switch, as hereinafter described.

Inclosed within the cylindrical member 25 is a second cylindrical telescopic member 28 fitted with an annular flange at 29, said flange serving to limit the upward movement of the telescopic member 28. A spiral spring 30 is interposed between the base 27 of the cylindrical member 25 and the upper wall 31 of the telescopic member 28, said spring 30 or the like by screws such as 34 and 35. This plate is centrally apertured and screwthreaded to permit adjustment of the threaded screw 32, which can consequently be moved back and forth in-a direction nor: mal to the vertical plane of the door 36. A section of the door 36 is removed to provide an opening 37 to receive the inner end of the screw 32. In the operation of the apparatus the screw 32 is first adjusted in the plate 33 so as to give the telescopic member 28 the desired movement when the door 36 is closed, to properly operate the switch mechanism inclosed within the housing 11.

The snap-switch as illustrated in Fig. 4 is mounted on an insulating base 38 on which is secured a mounting bracket 39, said bracket being apertured to receive the sliding bar 23. This bar 23 carries at its upper end the operating button 22, and fitted between the operating button 22 andthe bracket 39 is the spiral spring 24. This spring 24 is normally under compression and serves to maintain the button 22 in contact spring 30 until the compressive force of the pin 43, which is with the waterproof diaphragm 21 and,

through it, in contact with the cylindrical the vertical member 41 of the bracket 39 is a movable bracket 42 of the switch mechanism. The front arm of the bracket 42 is apertured to receive a pin 43, which is surrounded by a spiral spring 44 normally held in compression between the forward face of the bracket 42 and the rear end of ivotally attached to the sliding rod 23. ounted on the front end of the insulating block 38 are two contact terminals such as 45, to which are secured contact blades such as 46. The bracket 42 is arranged to move up and down under the action of the spring 44 and its associated elements, so that the side arms of the bracket 42 will make contact with the blades 46 and thereby close the circuit.

When the screw 32 has been adjusted to the proper operating position, as hereinbefore described, and the door 36 is moved to its closed position, the head of said screw will contact with the telescopic member 28. Due to this movement of the telescopic member 28, it will betelescoped in the cylindrical member 25 against the action of the the springis such as to overcome the action of the'circuit-controlling ap aratus contained within the housing 11. en this degree of compression is acquired by the spring 30, movement will be transferred to the operating button 22 of the snap-switch through the diaphragm'21. This movement will continue until the switch is operated upon the closure of the door 36. I The spring 30 is so designed that the compression thereon willcontinueto the full extent of the telescopic nism is obviously taken care of by adjust-' ing the screw 32 in the plate 33 as hereinbefore described.

In the modified form of mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4, the switch housing 50 is provided with 'a' cap 51 which is centrally apertured, the said aperture being threaded to receive the bushing 52. Between the bushing 52 and the annular flange or seat 53 in said aperture is placed a gasket or acking gland 54 which is apertured to receive the operating pin 55 of the circuit-controlling mechanism or switch, which is loosely fitted in the bushing 52. The gasket 54 renders the housing for the circuit-controlling mechanism or switch waterproof.

Secured to the lower end of the pin 55 is a disk 56 which contacts with the operating button 22 of the snap-switch. Secured to the door 36 is a mechanism utilized to operate the pin 55, said mechanism including a resilient buffer. This mechanism consists of a plate 57 secured to the door by means of screws such as 58 and 59, said plate carrying a cylindrical member 60 which 1s embedded inthe door proper 36 in a suitable aperture provided therefor. Fitted within the cylindrical member 60is a telescoping member 61, the upper. face 62 of which is a ertured and threaded to receive a bolt 63.

urrounding that portion of the shank of the bolt 63 which extends into the telescoping-member 61 is a spiral spring 64, said spring being held in compression between the face 65 of the cylindrical member 60 and the front face 67 of the telescoping member 61. Due to the threaded connection between the bolt 63 and the telescoping member 61, the bolt is readily movable and adjustable in and out of said telescoping member and when adjusted to the pro er position it is locked in this position by t e nut 68.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that in the alternate form illustrated in Fig. 4 the resilient buffer does not constitute a part of the switch mechanism and is entirely independent thereof, being associated with the movable door 36 and making the initial or rough adjustment of the switch-operating mechanism.

In the device illustrated in Fig. 4: the

rough adjustment of the mechanism is first the bushing 52 and the gasket 54, the head or disk 56 of said pin acting upon the opera-ting button 22 to operate the switch, as hereinbefore described.

Operating mechanisms constructed in ac-' cordance with the invention herein disclosed are useful for many purposes, but are especially useful when it is desired to make the operation of the switch automatic upon the doing of some other act. Thus the particular type of switch herein disclosed may be used in any and all instances when it is desired to automatically open the circuit either to extinguish lights or to discontinue the operation of any electrical apparatus when a door, window, or the like is moved to the open position. Likewise, the switch contacts maybe readily changed so as to reverse this operation and close the circuit when the door or window is opened.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the specific and preferred embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described, but is capable of many variations and other applications which come within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claimsa j I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a door, of a circuitcontrolling switch, means for operating said switch, a primary movable element, and movable means interposed between said element and said first mentioned means, through which said switch may be operated by said primary movable element, and ad justable means mounted on said door operable to determine the amount of movement transferred to said primary element by the movement of said door.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a door, of a circuitcontrolling switch, a casing inclosing said switch mounted adjacent said door, means protruding through said casing for operating said switch, a shock-absorbing lost-motion transmission means associated with said last-mentioned means, and adjustable means secured to said door operable to determine the amount of movement transmitted to the means protruding through the switch casing by the closing of said door.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 

